K-Wings drop two

Monday

Dec 17, 2012 at 10:43 PMDec 17, 2012 at 10:47 PM

K-Wings have tough weekend

Mark C. McGlothlen

The Kalamazoo Wings lost two of three this past weekend, but were able to snag three points in the process, which keeps them two points ahead of the last place Evansville IceMen and three points behind the Fort Wayne Komets in the ECHL North Division.

The Toledo Walleye lead the division with 33 points, followed by the Cincinnati Cyclones with 30 and the Komets with 28.

All three games this weekend were decided by a single goal with two games going to overtime.

On Friday night, Eric Kattelus scored the game-tying goal in the third period and then scored the lone goal in the overtime shootout for the 3-2 K-Wing victory over the IceMen at Wings Stadium. Brett Lysak scored the other K-Wing goal.

On Saturday night, the K-Wings scored late in the first period and held the visiting Florida Everblades off the scoreboard until the final minutes of the game.

With just under five minutes remaining in the game, Ryan O'Byrne put the Everblades on the board with his second goal of the season. Minutes later, while on a five-on-three power play, Matt Marquardt sent a shot to the back of the net for the eventual game winner.

Traveling to Fort Wayne for a Sunday evening game against the Komets, the K-Wings again found themselves in for a battle. After a scoreless first period the teams exchanged goals in the second period. Stefan Schneider put the K-Wings on the board early in the period with his first goal of the season.

The Komets' Brett Smith tied the game later in the period. Neither team scored in the third.

A late penalty to K-Wings defenseman Mitch Versteeg in overtime gave the Komets a four-on-three man edge and they used it to their advantage. Daniel Maggio scored with just 44 seconds left in OT to give the Komets the win.

The K-Wings return home for a game Friday night against the Komets on Game Show Night.

It is also a FANomenal Friday featuring $2 beers, $1 Pepsi products and $1 pretzels.

K-Wings News and Notes

Teddy Bear Toss: The K-Wings held their 13th Annual Teddy Bear Toss night on Saturday against the Florida. Fans tossed 1,057 stuffed animals on the ice after Aaron Clarke scored the first goal of the game. The stuffed animals will be split between Toys for Tots and the Salvations Army. K-Wings players along with coach Nick Bootland, Slappy and Santa Claus will also deliver some of the animals to the Children's Hospital at Bronson this afternoon.

Milestone Alert: Two K-Wing players are nearing important milestones. Sam Ftorek is two points shy of 600 in his career and Brett Lysak needs just two points to reach 400.

Workhorse: Goaltender Joel Martin has seen plenty of time between the pipes so far this season. Martin has played in 10 straight games for the K-Wings and 14 of the last 15. In addition, Martin leads the ECHL with 1,256 minutes played.

Fined: Following the game against the Florida Everblades, three K-Wings were fined as a result of their actions during the contest. Aaron Clarke was fined under Rule 28 — Supplementary Discipline. Eric Kattelus was fined under Rule 28 – Supplementary Discipline and received a match penalty under Rule 39.5 at the 20:00 mark of the third period. Coach Nick Bootland, who was ejected from the game late in the third period, was also assessed a game misconduct under Rule 39.5 and was fined under Rule 28 — Supplementary Discipline.